Bankruptcy and christmas

skibadee

I was declared BR nearly 3 wks ago and am panicing as to how Im going to afford christmas this year......obviously I'm glad I no longer have credit...and never want it again.
How have others coped with this time of years costs?

philnicandamy

with me? people understood although I couldnt buy much what little I did give meant a lot to people...I saved what little I had really in the end and gave myself a budget for everything to stick to..places like home & bargains and the poundshop worked wonders! along with the odd car boot etc

although you do need a telling off for mentioning the "c" word! :D:rotfl:

tigerfeet2006

Have a look at this board and get dome good ideas

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=10

I have started to look around the charity shops and recently picked up Thomas tshirt and thomas jumper, box set of Dr Who story books and a box set of Dr Who aliens books (celophane wrapped) and lots of Disney DVD's and Night Garden DVD's that look almost new (my lot won't notice the difference.) Al for next to nothing

MicheH

In my family we're kind of saying the same sort of thing, we're all hard up one way or another. With my girls i'm quite lucky because they're young although the eldest wants every thing she shes. What i'm going to have to do is get lots of craft things, wrap everything up individually so it looks more. I've been collecting things for a while now so I have a little stash. It's a hard one and although we've never put christmas 'on the card' I definately feel left with wonder on how we're going to afford it. £15 morrison vouchers from petrol card so some treats at xmas, cutting holly form MIL tree, going to get creative

RichesToRags

I think there's a few of us in the same boat, I've got all 3 of my daughters birthdays before christmas too. I've been looking around the different boards on here and there's some great tips.....

If all else fails you can always convert to JW for a couple of months ;)

lee316

Just a thought, but why is it necessary to give presents at Xmas?
There is other ways to show love and appreciation, is there not?
We have wondered about Xmas as well, and than it hit us, and it was kinda liberating. When I think how much we use to spend on presents, and had a good look around the house, our kids always got what they wanted, they've got mobiles, game consoles, laptops, what is that teaching them about value of money and hard work? And what posibly could they want, or more need?
So this year they will get nothing, and they know it. Instead, they will get things that they need when they need it, not just because it's Xmas.
We have been honest and upfront with them about our predicament, and used it as a lesson for them to learn from.
I don't feel that we are being mean, if anything I regret spending last 14 and 16 years of their life teaching them that they can have everything they want just because they want it, without giving it a thought to how they get it.

MicheH

I hear what you are saying but I have a five year old who gets unbelievably excited at christmas. My children are not spoilt but on Christmas they have a gorgeous face on them when they see their presents. I'm not taking that away from them or myself to see it. We celebrate christmas as a unit of 4 family. We're not religious, don't do it to show love or affection we do it because it's a fun filled happy day where we all forget about everything and focus on my girls. No matter how skint we are my girls will get a pile of presents, what is in that pile of presents won't be DS's of £50 crying dolls or dvd player for their room but a sledge for when the snow comes, paint and knit your own sarf set. See what I mean? I don't need to use christmas as a way of teaching my children about the value of money, they will have the very best education about borrowing believe me. Christmas is Christmas as usual in the How***** household

vermicious-knid

RichesToRags wrote: »

If all else fails you can always convert to JW for a couple of months ;)

JW's may not celebrate xmas but they can and do go BR and have the same money worries as others. doesn't mean that they don't worry about not being able to afford to buy their children gifts.

bigheadxx

Best thing we ever did was set up a Xmas account. DD for £90 p/m means a good christmas without the usual January hangover.

philnicandamy

sadly though most people here would love to have £90 a month left after living expenses once bankrupt.....know I would for sure

fatou256

you can find some wonder in charity shop and it is cheap too !